Nut runner attachment



April 18, 1967 L. c. FINKLE 3,314,316

NUT RUNNER ATTACHMENT Filed Dec. 4, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

LEWIS C. Fl NKLE IZZW ATTOR NEY April 18, 1967 1 .c. FINKLE 3,314,316

NUT RUNNER ATTACHMENT Filed Dec. 4, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

LEWIS C. FINKLE BY Raf/24% ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,314,316 NUTRUNNER ATTACHMENT Lewis C. Finlrle, Temple City, Calif., assignor toWedgelock Corporation of California, North Hollywood, Calif., acorporation of California Filed Dec. 4, 1964, Ser. No. 415,935 1 Claim.(Cl. 81-55) This invention relates to a nut runner attachment and moreparticularly to an improved nut runner attachment having a fixed lockingmeans.

In the assembly of sheet metal skins or work pieces, particularly in theair frame industry, there is a need for holding the work pieces duringthe assembly operation. Fastening devices are used for this purpose andare provided with a body member having a wrench engaging the exteriorconfiguration. Retractable pins are mounted in the body portion and areconnected to a chuck member which is slidably and non-rotatably mountedinside the body portion. A threaded stud member is connected to thechuck and extends exteriorly of the body portion so that the stud may beengaged with a nut. Then, when the nut is rotated while the body portionis prevented from being rotated, the pins will be protracted from orretracted into the body portion, as the case may be, depending upon thedirection of rotation of the nut. The pins are provided with shouldermeans adapted to engage one side of the work piece and to clamp themtightly between the shoulder means and the body portion when the pinsare retracted sufi'iciently into the body portion.

The installation and removal of the releasable fastener with respect tothe work pieces is greatly accelerated by the use of a nut runnerattachment which is designed to maintain the body portion in anon-rotative position while the nut portion is rotated. It is desirableto provide a nut runner attachment which will readily accommodate themanual insertion and removal of the fastener body portion from theattachment so that the fastener will not jam or bind in the attachment.Also, it has been found desirable to maintain the body portion of thefastener against linear or axial movement while the nut is beingrotated. This is accomplished with the device of the present inventionwhich is designed in such a manner that the body portion is locked inplace in the attachment against such linear movement upon insertion ofthe fastener body portion into the attachment. The locking feature isconstructed as a part of the attachment so that separate releasablelocking devices are not required which normally necessitate actuationindependent of the installation of the fastener body portion into theattach ment.

Furthermore, nut runner attachments employed in the past easily becomeclogged with discarded metal chips, dirt, or other residue normallyfound around machine working shops or areas. These attachments have beenfound to be difficult to clean and maintain, as well as to keep inadjustment due, in part, to the lack of ready accessibility into theattachment carrier for the fastener.

It has been a further problem to maintain a releasable fastener inproper axial alignment with the nut runner attachment during operationor installation of the fastener with the work piece since the device ishand held and is subject to movement caused by vibration, visualmisalignment and other device disturbances.

These and other difficulties have been obviated by the present inventionwhich provides for a stationary or non-movably locking means constructedinto the attachment which prevents linear movement of the body portionof the fastener but which will permit small angular movement of the bodyportion to accommodate alignment problems. The locking means cooperatewith an open channel so that the body portion may be slightly angularly3,314,316 Patented Apr. 18, 1967 ice displaced within the attachmentabout the locking means. The open channel also provides for convenientaccess to and out of the nut runner attachment receiver when the bodyportion is being removed from, or installed in, the nut runnerattachment.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved nut runner attachment.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved locking means for a nut runner attachment which provides fixedmeans for retaining the body portion of a fastener against axialmovement within the nut runner attachment while the fastener is beinginstalled on or removed from work pieces.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvednon-movable locking means for a nut runner attachment which is fixed inplace and does not require biasing into various locking and unlockingpositions.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved locking means of the type described which will lock the bodyportion of a fastener to the attachment upon the insertion of thefastener in the attachment.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved locking means of the type described which is economical tomanufacture and which may be used safely, efiiciently, andexpeditiously.

According to the present invention, a nut runner attachment is providedwhich takes the form of an elongated sleeve adapted to be attached orsecured on one end to a conventional air-driving gun or the like andadapted to receive and hold a fastener of the type previously describedon the other end of the sleeve. The fastener receiving portion of thesleeve is adapted to nonrotatably support the body portion of thefastening device while the chuck of the air gun engages and rotates theactuator nut portion of the fastening device. Locking means fixed to theinner diameter of the receiver portion of the sleeve is employed forengagement with an annular locking slot provided in the body portion toprevent axial movement thereof during operation of the nut runnerattachment and to present dislodgement of the body portion while thereleasable fastener is being carried to and from the work pieces. Topresent such dislodgement, the locking means in cooperation with theannular slot in the body and in cooperation with the engagement of thenut within the air gun chuck insures retention of the fastener withinthe sleeve. The nose or fastener receiving portion is also provided withan elongated channel or passage which opens to the mouth or opening ofthe sleeve. The channel is of sufficient width and length to accommodatethe insertion of the body portion of the fastener into the interior ofthe sleeve for engagement with the locking means and the air gun chuck.When the fastener is not installed on the attachment sleeve, the openingor passage may be employed for cleaning, inspection or adjustmentpurposes.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel areset forth with particularity in the appended claim. The presentinvention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, togetherwith further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood byreference to the following description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal, elevational view of a locking means of thepresent invention as associated with a fastener, with portions of theattachment broken away to show the fastener construction;

FIGURE 2 is a transverse, cross-sectional View taken in the direction ofarrows 22 of FIGURE 1 showing a portion of the fastener body broken awayto illustrate the locking means;

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view of the locking means employed inthe device of FIGURES 1 and 2;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of the locking means illustrate-d inFIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is another embodiment of the present invention showing theattachment sleeve in elevation;

FIGURE 6 is a front elevational view of the invention shown in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of the presentinvention showing the free end of the attachment sleeve broken away toillustrate the locking means;

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 7 takenin the direction of arrows 8-8.

With reference to the drawings and FIGURES 1 and 2 in particular, anembodiment in accordance with the present invention is shown whichincludes a hollow tubular sleeve 10 serving as a novel nut runnerattachment or detachable carrying a releasable fastener indicated in thedirection of the arrow 11. One end of the sleeve is threadably coupledto a housing 12, which in turn is threadably coupled to a suitablemotor, air gun or other driving means, not shown. A lock nut '13 isemployed to lock the sleeve 10 against rotation after the sleeve hasbeen positioned to its proper or most advantageous position.

Carried on the forward end of the motor and rotatably driven thereby,there is provided a socket 14 carried on the end of a rotatable tube 15projecting from and incorporated as part of the driving means. Thesocket detachably engages with one end of the fastener 11 which iscarried by the sleeve 10. The opposite end of the sleeve 10 to its endcoupled to the motor is provided with an elongated cutout or passageindicated in the direction of arrow '16 defined by a pair of parallellongitudinally extending edges 17 and 18 forming the sides and a lateraledge 19 forming the end of the recess. The recess opens into an entranceindicated by the arrow 26 leading into the bore of the sleeve; thereby,the sleeve may be said to have an enlarged opening leading into theinterior of the sleeve bore for receiving the insertion and removal ofthe releasable fastener 11.

The releasable fastener 11 illustrated as being mounted in the sleeve 10includes a body portion 21 of hexagon configuration which is held in anon-rotative relationship with respect to the sleeve and a nut 23rotatably mounted on an elongated stud 29 which forms the actuatorportion of the fastener. The actuator nut is seated within the coaxialrotatably driven motor socket 14. The socket rotates the actuator nut 23relative to the body portion of the fastener.

The attachment sleeve is provided with an axial bore 24 )f non-circularconfiguration and a cylindrical counter- )ore 25 which is coaxial andcoextensive with the first nentioned bore. The non-circular bore 24 isadapted to 101d the body portion of the fastener 11 in non-rotative,ixial movable relationship to the axial bore 25 by en- ;agement of thefirst mentioned bore 24 with lands 26 on he body portion of thefastener. The hexagon fastener is ocked in the hexagon drive and cannotrotate so that the astener is not free to turn in the work. Thus, thebody ortion may be easily and readily inserted through the ntrance tothe sleeve bores 24 and 25 via the cutout 16 nd removed therefrom.

While the fastener 11 may be one of several types deigned to clamp apair .of work pieces 27 and 28 together, is shown for purposes ofillustration but not of limitaon, as including a pair of protractableand retractable ires or pins 30 which are inserted into apertures 31 inork pieces 27 and 28 and are then spread apart by a preader bar 32 asshown in FIGURE 1, when the actutor nut 23 is rotated in one directioncausing wires 30 be retracted into the fastener 11. This action locksthe head of the pins 30 against the side 33 of the work piece 27 toclamp the work pieces between the pin head and a work engaging surface34 of the fastener 11, which abuts one side 35 of work piece 28. The nutrunner driving means actuates the pins by translating rotation of thesocket 14 which, in turn, engages the actuator nut 23 of the fastener 11while the body portion 21 is non-rotatably secured in the sleeve.

In order to retain the body portion and thereby the fastener seatedwithin the sleeve, a locking means is provided located near the entrancethrough the bore 24 of the nut runner attachment sleeve indicated in thegeneral direction of arrow 36. A locking bar 42 is mounted near theentrance to the bore within the sleeve so as to interfere with the axialdisplacement of the body portion of the fastener. The locking barcooperates with an annular slot 37 or groove provided in the bodyportion so that once the body portion has been inserted into the bore ofthe sleeve, the upper portion of the locking bar will be received intothe slot and the body portion of the fastener will be coaxial with thesleeve. Axial displacement of the body portion is prevented by means ofthe spaced shoulders 38 defining the slot which abuts with the lockingbar. It is to be noted from FIGURE 2, that the locking bar includes anotch 40 formed in its upper surface so as to accommodate the specialconfiguration of the body portion of the fastener to facilitateinsertion and removal of the body portion to and from the sleeve.

In the present instance, the body portion is shown having an outerconfiguration of a hexagon which mates with the lands of the bore 24 ofthe sleeve to prevent the body from rotating. The not-ch is employed foraccommodating the hexagonal configured body portion; however, it is tobe understood that the notch may take the configuration of a circularrecess, a slot, or other suitable passage means. The locking baremployed in the configurations of FIGURES 1 and 2 is inserted through apair of coaxial holes 41 aligned perpendicular to the centrallongitudinal axis of the sleeve. The holes are of sutficient diameter toaccommodate the insertion of the locking bar 42 into the position shownin FIGURE 2. Once the bar has been so positioned, the holes may besealed such as by silver soldering or brazing which achieves permanentfixture of the locking bar to the sleeve.

With reference to FIGURES 3 and 4, an enlarged view of the locking baremployed in the embodiment of FIG- URE 1 is shown which illustrates thenotch 40 or opening in the front view of FIGURE 3 and showing a leadingedge 44 of the locking bar being rounded or chamfered, as shown inFIGURE 4 to permit easier accessibility of the body portion of thefastener into the sleeve. It has been found that in employing a lockingbar without rounding the leading edge may sometimes cause the body portion to hang on the locking bar and make for diflicult insertion of thebody portion into the sleeve. Therefore, a feature of the inventionresides in the rounding off of the leading edge to reduce interferencewith the body portion as it is inserted into the sleeve.

With reference to FIGURE 5, another embodiment of the present inventionis shown wherein the insertion of the locking bar 42 is accomplished byproviding a pair of parallel elongated slots 45 in opposing sides of thesleeve bore 24 opening interiorly of the sleeve near the entrance of thebore. The slots extend from the edges of the sleeve defining the cutout16 to the bottom of the bore. By providing such a construction, it isnecessary only to insert the locking bar into the slot and position thelocking bar to the bottom in the desired position within thenon-circular bore 24. The locking bar may be retained to the sleeve bymeans of silver soldering or brazing techniques.

Still another embodiment of the present invention is shown withreference to FIGS. 7 and 8 wherein the locking means comprises a detent46 or dimple which is formed inwardly from the material of the sleeveand extends into the non-circular bore 24. The detent including a notch47 is formed by placing a die member inside the bore 24 of the sleeveand punching or pressing the outer diameter of the sleeve near theentrance of the bore causing a laminar flow of material into the die.Upon removal of the die, the detent or dimple as shown in FIGURE 8 isintegrally formed 50 that no further brazing or soldering operation isrequired which may adversely affect the temper of the sleeve. Sharpcorners 48 are provided on the front and rear edges of the detent and alongitudinal straight edge is maintained to match the configuration ofthe locking groove on the fastener.

Operation of the device will be readily understood. In actual practice,the operator of the device may grip the nut runner attachment, includingthe driving means, in one hand and may then insert fastener 11 into thebore 24 of the sleeve with his other hand. In inserting the fastenerinto the bore, the fastener may be angled slightly so that the stud 29and nut 23 and rear portion of the body portion 21 enter into the borevia the elongated cutout 16 near the entrance to the bore. When the nuthas been inserted into the socket 14, the front or attachment end of thefastener may be lowered so that the locking bar 42 passes into the slot37 carried on the body portion of the fastener. This locks the fastener11 against axial movement while it is being carried to the work-piecesand also prevents axial movement of the fastener during the clamping andunclamping operation. A feature of the invention also resides in theability of the body portion and fastener to be slightly displaced withinthe bore 24 through the cutout while the actuator nut is in engagementwith the socket so that once the fastener has been installed on the workpieces and is in firm engagement with the work pieces, slight angulardisplacement of the fastener from the major axis of the runnerattachment can be accommodated.

While the particular fixed locking means for a nut runner herein shownand described in detail is fully capable of obtaining the objective andproviding the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is understood thatthese embodiments are merely illustrative of the present pre ferredembodiments of the invention, in that no limitations are intendedthrough the details of construction or design herein shown other thandefined in the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

In a nut runner having a first tubular member adapted to support anouter body of a fastener having a noncircular outer configuration innon-rotative relationship to said first member and a second driventubular member co-axial to said first tubular member and adapted toengage an actuator nut of non-circular configuration for rotationthereof so as to axially move a stud of said fastener in said secondtubular member while rotating the actuator nut with the second tubularmember, the combination comprising:

said fastener having an annular slot formed in said outer body extendingalong a plane normal to the major longitudinal axis of said fastener;

locking means fixed to said first tubular member having a portionreceivable in said fastener slot to retain said fastener in detachableengagement with said first tubular member against axial movement of saidfastener body;

said locking means portion having a rounded leading edge and a centralnotch opening into the bore of said first tubular member to accommodatethe insertion of said fastener outer body into said first tubular memberbore;

said first tubular member having a cutout formed therein opposite tosaid locking means for facilitating said fastener insertion into andremoval from said first tubular member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,162,072 12/1964Stew-art 81-55 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,220,097 1/1960 France.

JAMES L. JONES, 111., Primary Examiner.

